Closure attachment for exhaust pipes



May 19, 1959 P. H. WACHTER, JR

CLOSURE ATTACHMENT FOR EXHAUST PIPES Filed March 20, 1957 INVENTOR PAU LH. WAC HTERJR.

United States Patent a M 2,887,032 CLOSURE ATTACHMENT FOR EXHAUST PIPESPaul H. Wachter, In, Bismarck, N. Dak.

Application March 20, 1957, Serial No. 647,285

1cm. (CI. 93-60 The present invention relates to a protective coverattachment for upright exhaust pipes of internal combustion engines,such as the engines of tractors and the like, for the purpose ofpreventing foreign matter from entering the exhaust pipe and the enginecylinders.

An important object is to provide a simple, eflicient, and compacttubular cover or cap attachment for an engine exhaust pipe. Thisattachment includes an elongated tubular member having a lower portionarranged to be detachably connected to an upright exhaust pipe, also anupper portion through which the exhaust gases discharge to theatmosphere, and an intermediate laterally offset portion or elbow whichcommunicates the upper portion with the lower portion. The intermediateoffset portion constitutes a trap and is provided with an enlargedopening through which foreign matter, such as rain, water, snow, anddust, entering the tubular member through the upper portion thereof isprevented from passing into the lower portion of the tubular member andthe engine cylinders.

A further object consists in providing the upper portion of the tubularmember with a discharge opening, and forming the intermediate oflfsetportion of the tubular member with a drain opening which may bepositioned on the side of the tubular member opposite to that of thedischarge opening in the upper portion of the tubular member.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying claims and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, in which is shown a preferred embodiment ofthe invention;

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a tractor with parts in sectionshowing the cover attachment connected to the exhaust pipe of thetractor engine;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view taken substantially along the line2--2 of Figure 1, showing the cover attachment removed from the exhaustpipe;

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken susbtantially along the line 4-4 ofFigure 3.

Referring to the drawings, indicates a tractor of any conventional type,to the front of which is mounted the hood 11 that encloses the engine12. An exhaust pipe 13 is suitably connected to the manifold 14 of theengine and extends upwardly through an opening 15 in the hood 11, so asto provide an exposed end portion to which is suitably connected atubular cover or rain cap attachment generally indicated by the numeral16 (Fig. 2).

The tubular cover attachment 16 is formed with a lower straight portion17 which may be provided with one or more vertical slits 18 so as toyieldably fit over the exposed upper end portion of the upright exhaustpipe 13 and be firmly secured thereto by a flexible strap or band 19(Fig. 2). The lower portion 17 of the tubular member communicates withthe laterally oifset portion or elbow 20, which, in turn, communicateswith an upper portion 21 that has an inclined discharge opening 22 inone side thereof. Preferably, the upper portion 21 is slightly curved asat 23, so as to form a reverse curve with the intermediate offset orbent portion 20 and thus provide a trap for foreign matter entering thetubular member 16 through the gas discharge opening 22.

In order to prevent foreign matter, such as rain, water, snow, dust, andthe like, fromentering the exhaust pipe 13, the intermediate olfsetportion 20, at the junctures of:

the lower portion 17 and the upper portion 21 therewith,

and on the side opposite to the discharge opening 22, is providedwith anenlarged drain or trap opening 24 for catching and withdrawing any ofthe foreign matter that enters through the opening 22. A depending drainpipe 25 is welded or otherwise suitably connected to the wall of theopening 24, as at 26, and is of such a length as to be spaced from thetop of the hood 11, when the parts are asembled. Additionally, theenlarged opening 24 which communicates with the drain pipe 25 ispositioned outside of the hood 11 so as to allow fresh air to be suckedinto the tubular member 16 and thus mix with the exhaust gases or fumesas the latter pass through the upper portion 21 and are dischargedtherefrom through the opening 22. Thus, means are provided for dilutingthe exhaust gases to a substantial degree so as to aid in thedissipation of the gas or fumes as they are discharged from the exhaustpipe 15 and pass freely upwardly through the tubular member 16 so as todischarge through the opening 22. The closure or rain cap attachment isparticularly efiicient for use with diesel engines or the like and maybe readily connected to the upright exhaust pipe 13 of the engine by theclamp 19. Preferably at the point 26 where the pipe 25 is connected tothe tubular member 16, there is provided a slight overlap or inwardlyextending projection 27 (Fig. 4) which serves to catch moisture enteringthe pipe through the opening 22. The wall of the opening 22 is inclineddownwardly, so as to provide greater protection from the weather thanwould be obtained if the exposed end of this wall were vertical orstraight up and down. The length of the tubular cover attachment 16,including the end portions 17 and 21, may be varied so as to adapt theattachment to any particular type of machine, at a minimum expenditureof time, effort, and cost.

In operation, it will be noted that the tubular member 16 is connectedto the upright exhaust pipe 13 so as to position the discharge opening22 in any suitable direc tion to allow the free withdrawal of theexhaust gases through the outlet 22. Moreover, the intermediate offsetor bent portion 20 coacts with the upper portion 21 of the tubularmember so as to provide a trap for causing foreign matter, such as rain,snow, water, or the like, that enters the attachment through the opening22 to be deflected towards the drain opening 24 and be withdrawntherefrom through the pipe 25 without danger of this foreign matterbeing discharged into the lower portion 17 and the engine cylinders. Theinterior wall of the tubular member is shaped to insure the stream ofexhaust gases or fumes as they issue from the exhaust pipe 13 to passfreely upwardly and without interference, through the tubular member 16and around the curved intermediate portion 23 to the discharge outlet 22when the engine is in operation. When the engine stops, any foreignmatter that may enter the tubular member through the opening 22 will betrapped and caught by the intermediate offset portion 20 and bedischarged therefrom through the drain pipe 25, so as to prevent any ofthis foreign matter from entering the cylinders and causing damage bycorroding or rusting parts thereof.

It will be understood that the form of the invention Patented May 19,1959';

3 hown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made as comewithin the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

A one piece cover attachment for upright engine exhausts including anelongated sinuous tubular member having a lower inlet end portion, anupper end portion curved toward the horizontal so as to provide alateral port in one side thereof, an intermediate curved laterallyoffset portion communicating the lower end portion with the upper endportion, said intermediate offset portion having a drain opening in theside thereof opposite said lateral port and adjacent the juncture of thelower inlet portion therewith, for withdrawing by gravity foreign matterentering the tubular member through said port and for preventing theforeign matter from discharging into the lower end portion of thetubular member, and a inlet portion of said tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 41,427Elbreg Feb. 2, 1864 2,296,350 Johnson Sept. 2, 1942 2,446,631 Burks Aug.10, 1948 2,466,307 DiRenna Apr. 5, 1949 2,468,961 Curphy May 3, 19492,482,577 Dahlstrom Sept. 20, 1949 2,630,748 Brockelsby Mar. 10, 1953FOREIGN PATENTS 18,136 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1911

